Creativity on Display at 8th Annual Children's Art Exhibit at SIUE

April 17, 2018, 2:50 PM

The artistic creations of students from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Early Childhood Center (ECC) are on display at the 8th Annual Children’s Art Exhibit this week. The public is invited to admire the children’s creative works in the Morris University Center Meeting Room A through noon on Friday, April 27.

The exhibit is in connection with the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Week of the Young Child. The purpose of the Week of the Young Child™ is to focus attention on the needs of young children and their families, and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

“It is incredibly important for the world to see even young children as capable beings,” said Sheri Rallo, teacher in the ECC’s Meadow Room. “It is our hope that this shines through when viewing the children’s art.”

“The ink tiles are my favorite,” said five-year-old Jace. “I like to paint and get messy.”

Four-year-old Willow looked around the colorful display pointing out primary and secondary colors. “Everything is beautiful,” she said. “I like drawing the most.”

“At the Early Childhood Center, we believe that what our children do with materials and mediums is not regarded as just art per se, because we view the children’s use of many mediums is not a separate part of the curriculum, but an inseparable, integral part of the whole cognitive/symbolic expression involved in the process of learning,” said ECC Director Rebecca Dabbs MacLean.

The ECC offers early childhood care and education for children ages two through five. For more information, visit siue.edu/earlychildhood/.